As much as I am bemused by Stillwater, it is great to escape every now and again! My first 2 trips out of state have been to 2 great locations - San Francisco on the Memorial day weekend at the end of May and then mighty NYC early June.

My trip to SF was absolutely fantastic. The reason for the visit was to catch up with crazy Miss Julia Melissa Stevens whom, although I love and adore, hadn't managed to see for nearly 8 years due to a rather large ocean. So upon arival in the US one of the first things I did was organsie to hook up with her and DJ. We ate and drank our way shamelessly through the long weekend. In fact, I was so busy eating, drinking and talking this is the only photo I took....

See, I am still blown away by the simplest things. How does one drive a car that long? Where do you park it? In this instance it was parked outside the Supper Club in downtown SF. Ahh the Supper Club. How to sum up such a strange experience? Jules informed me it was a 'bit crazy' but a good place to take tousists in town. After being directed to a large bed that doubled as our dinner table and ordering possibly the strongest cocktail on earth I was subject to first course entertainment - a contortionist on a hanging hoop - intruiging if a little uncomfortable to watch. Proceed to main course (which was delicious) where the entertainment took the form of a dance off that degenerated into a strip show. No, not the good kind. The clothes should have stayed on. Even DJ (as a hot blooded male) agreed. This debacle was followed shortly by a skit involving a vibrator (not a description is not necessary but at least the clothes were on for this round). Dessert followed and a final round of 'entertainment' which was actually back to the contortionist idea, this time involving ribbons hanging from the ceiling, and, thankfully, some skill! Yes Julia, Supper Club is definitiely a 'bit crazy'!!!

But, I shouldn't give you the wrong impression. My fabulous hosts also provided me with a wine tour, endless great breakfasts and coffees and an unbeatable Italian meal replete with gin and homemade tonic (oh to know what they put in it!) which finished with the best ice-cream in SF. Bring on my next visit and their wedding in July. Can't wait.

The trip to NYC was also planned entirely around the food and drink. I will let the photos tell the story...

Roof bar at Gaansevoort - great people watching

Momofuku pork belly buns - yum (hello cholesterol)

And my absolute favourite meal replete with margaritas...

Tequileria and Mexican restaurant in West Village. Location to remain secret due to awesomeness of meal

Oh and I can't forget my absolute favourite dessert - yes they gave us a whole pie.
And yes we ate every last morsel....

Peach pie, no more words

But in case you are wondering we did also do some sight-seeing....

Cloisters, part of the Met. Tranquil, worth the trek.

Right, a picture tells a thousand words so that is it for the NYC story. I am also back there later in the year for more eating and drinking, this time with Mum and Fe - hooray! Can't wait.